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Inkscape vs Penpot Comparison

Last updated:

Inkscape

4.5(364 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Inkscape is an invaluable, free design tool that can take you from concept to completion with ease. Whether you need a web or printed output, it offers powerful transformations like moving, scaling, rotating, or skewing…

Penpot

4.4(310 reviews)

Starting at Free free

  • Small Business
  • Mid-Market

Penpot is the first open-source design and prototyping tool built for cross-functional teams, offering a Figma-like experience with full self-hosting capability. It runs in the browser, supports real-time collaboration,…

Inkscape leads on user satisfaction with a 4.5-star rating across 364 reviews.

Inkscape vs Penpot — at a glance

FeatureInkscapePenpot
Rating4.5 / 54.4 / 5
Reviews364310
Starting priceContact for pricingFree free
Free trial No No
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessSmall Business, Mid-Market, Enterprise
CategoryGraphic Design SoftwareGraphic Design Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - MacCloud, On-Premise, Linux
APIAvailable
Support modesOnlineGitHub Issues, Community Forum, Help Center, Enterprise Support

Key differences between Inkscape and Penpot

  • Pricing: Penpot starts at Free free. Inkscape pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Target audience: Inkscape is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Penpot targets Small Business and Mid-Market.
  • User satisfaction: Inkscape scores higher with a 4.5-star average.
  • Deployment: Inkscape supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac; Penpot supports Cloud, On-Premise, Linux.

Inkscape vs Penpot — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Graphic Design Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Inkscape - New SaaS Software
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Inkscape vs Penpot: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Inkscape

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Penpot

Best for

Small Business, Mid-Market, Enterprise

Inkscape typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Penpot tends to fit Small Business and Mid-Market better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

Inkscape is an invaluable, free design tool that can take you from concept to completion with ease. Whether you need a web or printed output, it offers powerful transformations like moving, ... Read More about Inkscape

Penpot is the first open-source design and prototyping tool built for cross-functional teams, offering a Figma-like experience with full self-hosting capability. It runs in the browser, ... Read More about Penpot

Entry Level Pricing

  • Not Available
  • Starts from Free

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

Not Available

8.8/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.45

(364)
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

Penpot

  • Full Design Tool at Zero Cost: Self-hosted Penpot provides a Figma-grade design and prototyping experience with no subscription, no seat limits, and no vendor lock-in.
  • Data Sovereignty for Design: Self-hosting keeps all design files, assets, and collaboration data on company infrastructure — meeting data residency requirements that SaaS tools cannot.
  • Developer-Friendly Output: SVG-based designs with CSS inspect eliminate the format conversion step between design and development — designers and developers work in the same open language.
Best fit

Best fit

Inkscape

No best-fit guidance available yet.

Penpot

  • Government and public sector organizations that cannot use US SaaS tools due to data residency or sovereignty requirements
  • Open-source projects and nonprofits that need professional design tooling without SaaS subscription costs
  • European enterprises replacing Figma to maintain GDPR-compliant design data on EU-hosted self-managed infrastructure

Software Demo

Demo

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Step 1 of 4

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How do Inkscape and Penpot Compare on Features?

Total Features

3 Features

6 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Compare Inkscape and Penpot on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • Not Available
      • Free

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Free (Self-Hosted)

        Free

        • Full features

        • Unlimited users

        • Docker deployment

        Show more +

      • Free (Cloud)

        Free

        • Cloud hosting

        • Unlimited projects

        • Real-time collaboration

        Show more +

      • Enterprise

        Custom

        paid

        • On-premise SLA

        • Priority support

        • Custom integrations

        Show more +

      Inkscape vs Penpot: Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Individuals
      • Small Business
      • Medium Business
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Individuals
      • Small Business
      • Medium Business
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Installed - Mac
      • Installed - Windows
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Installed - Mac
      • Installed - Windows
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Not Available
      • Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Inkscape User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      4.4

      (based on 310 reviews)

      Rating Distribution

      250

      130

      12

      4

      1

      0

      0

      0

      0

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is positive across 397 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

      What buyers like

      • Free to use
      • Cross-platform compatibility
      • Design tools

      Common complaints

      • Steeper learning curve
      • Limited support resources
      • Occasional bugs

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is positive across 310 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

      What buyers like

      • Completely free with no per-seat pricing when self-hosted — a Figma-equivalent tool at zero software cost for unlimited team members.
      • Open-source (MPL 2.0) with full self-hosting means design data never leaves the company's infrastructure — critical for regulated industries.
      • SVG-based output using open web standards (CSS, HTML) produces design files that are directly readable by developers without proprietary format conversion.

      Common complaints

      • Feature set lags behind Figma — advanced auto-layout, variables, and component library features are available but less mature than Figma's implementations.
      • Self-hosting requires Docker and server administration skills — small teams without DevOps support may find the setup overhead a barrier to adoption.

      Pros and Cons

      • Offers a comprehensive suite of design tools for free.

      • Compatible with multiple operating systems for flexibility.

      • Strong community support and resources available.

      • May require time to learn advanced features.

      • Performance can lag on older hardware.

      • Completely free with no per-seat pricing when self-hosted — a Figma-equivalent tool at zero software cost for unlimited team members.

      • Open-source (MPL 2.0) with full self-hosting means design data never leaves the company's infrastructure — critical for regulated industries.

      • SVG-based output using open web standards (CSS, HTML) produces design files that are directly readable by developers without proprietary format conversion.

      • Feature set lags behind Figma — advanced auto-layout, variables, and component library features are available but less mature than Figma's implementations.

      • Self-hosting requires Docker and server administration skills — small teams without DevOps support may find the setup overhead a barrier to adoption.

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used Inkscape or Penpot? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Media and Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      No videos available.

      Top Alternatives to Inkscape and Penpot in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, Inkscape or Penpot?
      Inkscape edges out the other on user ratings (4.5 vs 4.4). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Inkscape and Penpot offer a free trial?
      Neither Inkscape nor Penpot currently lists a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Inkscape vs Penpot?
      Inkscape starts at Contact for pricing. Penpot starts at Free free.
      What are the top alternatives to Inkscape?
      Top alternatives to Inkscape include Vecteezy Editor, Gravit Designer, Repper, Icons8 App, Autotracer.
      What are the top alternatives to Penpot?
      Top alternatives to Penpot include Bannersnack, Placeit, Marvel, Inkscape, Wepik.